S54

[Jason89i]

Jason, one thing I didn't notice about sectioning the E30 front subframe is that the dual pickup pan hammerheads towards the driver's side, such that it requires removal of the left steering rack mounting ear!

I don't think there's any room to move the engine rearward without having to make firewall modifications, right?

This is making me seriously consider the 525i pan and an accusump.

The engine mounts just like the s50. To get it farther back, you need to cut the firewall.

Take a look at some old pictures of my car. The engine was moved back 4-1/2". I cant imagine the difficulty of keeping the dual sump AND mounting it (forward) like the average s50.

cheers, jason

[FredK]

I cant imagine the difficulty of keeping the dual sump AND mounting it (forward) like the average s50.

Definitely. This is a mockup that Uwe over on s14.net did of an S50B32 dual sump pan on an E30 front subframe.



I am fairly certain the S54 pan is nearly the same, dimension-wise, so clearly, there are going to be some problems fitting the pan in a stock fashion without some fabrication.

Now I remember why I told myself, just leave the car alone and drive it. :mrgreen:

[Jason89i]

it will be interesting to see how he solves the sway bar. ive waisted at least 2 days working on that issue myself. im using a universal straight bar w/ splined ends, roughly in the stock location. i was halfway tempted to mount it to the frame rails forward the engine. jason

[nando]

[*]Driveshaft may need to be a custom length, though the MCoupe driveshaft is pretty darn short up front

How much shorter? maybe an ix driveshaft could be used. It's about a foot shorter than a standard E30 shaft (however long the xfercase is). it's also one peice so no CSB to go bad. Rebuilt ones aren't really that expensive, especially if your other option is custom. It's telescoping too so there's some adjustment.

[z31maniac]

Now I remember why I told myself, just leave the car alone and drive it. :mrgreen:

I keep thinking an S54 would be amazing. But a Supercharged S52 seems much easier to get to "stupid HP" level.

Although no 8K+ shifts.

[mutty]

I keep thinking an S54 would be amazing. But a Supercharged S52 seems much easier to get to "stupid HP" level.

Although no 8K+ shifts.

That is true; but S52+s/c+tune+maintanance>S54 swap

[lifeiskaos]

jason, what engine mount arms are you using?

[Jason89i]

jason, what engine mount arms are you using?

homebrew.

[lifeiskaos]

man... i've been planning to do exactly what you've done for so long, except with my m52. i've wanted to use the rear sump e36 oil pan so i could use my SPA bottom mount turbo manifold with a good oil drain. please keep either this thread or the thread on s14 updated! i will be paying very close attention, especially with how you mount a sway bar.

[M3 euro ltw]

RE: Sweeet

Jason, I'm going to have to talk you into going with EPS to clean up the front of that engine and make even more power!

1K for the bolt in kit, all the hardware included..... how can I tempt you?

hehehehehheehh

Then the EWP.....

Come on, you NEED an extra 3% or so power! You know it... you can taste it.....

Should have been a drug dealer ..... damn, missed my calling.

[z31maniac]

That is true; but S52+s/c+tune+maintanance>S54 swap

Find a good deal on used S/C kit and it's probably the same price, would make more HP, and from what I understand (and I could be wrong) the S54 is a finicky, maintenance intensive engine.

[Jason89i]

Jason, I'm going to have to talk you into going with EPS to clean up the front of that engine and make even more power!

1K for the bolt in kit, all the hardware included..... how can I tempt you?

hehehehehheehh

Then the EWP.....

Come on, you NEED an extra 3% or so power! You know it... you can taste it.....

Should have been a drug dealer ..... damn, missed my calling.

actually, yes, i can almost taste it. i guess im a junkie. nnnnnneeeeddddd mmmmoooaaarrrr pp pp pp oooowwwrrrrrr.

actually, those are old pics. the ps pump is out, it manual now. Yes, i do plan on chatting with you in the future for the ewp. actually i have had a few manual steering cars and have HATED it. but somehow i got talked into trying it. in all reality, we may chat about both the ewp AND eps.

[M3 euro ltw]

Eps

Yeah, working with you, and getting my car up and running rejuvenated my interest in getting that done too. Returned some adapter hardware that was the wrong size for the NEW pumps I got, and should have the kits ready soon.

2 S54 harnesses arrived, engine ships saturday, 3 E36 harnesses on the way.... two DME's landed, but are already sold.....gonna get crimping soon!

[DaveSmed]

Yeah, working with you, and getting my car up and running rejuvenated my interest in getting that done too. Returned some adapter hardware that was the wrong size for the NEW pumps I got, and should have the kits ready soon.

2 S54 harnesses arrived, engine ships saturday, 3 E36 harnesses on the way.... two DME's landed, but are already sold.....gonna get crimping soon!

Can't wait!!!

[M3 euro ltw]

Progress...

Painful and slow...

West coast S54 is up and running using a simplified installation. HFM is deleted, and WBO2 sensor added. So far no barometric compensation yet, this is a strict TPS vs RPM version using the SEM I'm involved with.

Prelim data with a incomplete tune, bone stock engine with factory intake manifold and factory headers. 320 at the rears. This corresponds well with quote of 365 at the crank from the guys who first got a S54 up and running on SEM of this brand.

The harness conversion is looking great...and will literally just plug right into the X20 on a E36. (It will be relatively easy to rebuild the connector to be a C101 I believe... but have to look at some more ETMs for the E30)

The only current actual modifications will be:

Delete HFM
Pull out 4 diodes from the vanos package on the engine (*)
Add a throttle cable when the DBW motor is removed.
Tap the intake manifold with a 12x1.5 tap to add an air temp sensor. (**)
Adding a non-adjustable FPR that is supplied. (***)

(*) Prototype of board for this arrives this next week!
(**) This is very easy, and the hole pre-exists from another use.
(**) This is controversial, but initial tune supplied will then be accurate. End user can use their own parts of course for anything they want to, but then they may have to retune at the dyno.....

Additional add-ons will be available, but they will increase the cost a little.
1) the ability to add on a barometric sensor to help compensate for altitude differences and/or Ram effect on a performance air intake system
2) the ability to add on WB O2 sensor to enable self-tuning for those that want it.
3) the ability to add on an oil temperatuare sensor that will tie into the BMW E30 M3 cluster, or an optional supplied E36 S50B32 cluster.

I have tentatively decided to include a pre-wired plug under the cam cover for people to add the WB system of their choice, and it is easy to bring those wires in through a factory grommet towards the back of the cam cover. (as the factory does actually)

I am still hoping to market the whole kit as above between $3000 to $3500 including the computer. This compares favorably with Motec, and even with a competitor's "P&P" system at $4500.... one that doesn't keep the vanos active! I've been a bit dissapointed at some of the cost increases due to items I did not anticipate EARLY on, such as the air temp sensor being built into the HFM, and the FPR not being on the engine. This was unfortunately due to my assumptions about the S54 being a close relative to the S50B32.

I'm sorry for the delay. I want a very professional execution of this kit's harness so that people can literally just put it on their engine, and have complete confidence in its weather resistance and integrity. With that goal in mind, I've found some pretty fancy materials that meet or exheed the BMW original factory harness, and this will end up being a very slick blend of the E36 style harness and the E46 harness....it will be a nearly seamless appearance.

More to come....my wife is going to kill me as I stay up late and work on this stuff.... the more boxes that show up at the door with "stuff", the higher her BP gets!